HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2025-06-04 Agenda Packet1
AGENDA
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BPAC)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025, AT 6:00 P.M.
San Rafael City Hall, Third Floor Conference Room
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Watch Online:
Watch on Zoom Webinar: https://cityofsanrafael-org.zoom.us/j/82547799614
Listen by phone: (669) 444 9171
ID: 825 4779 9614
One Tap Mobile: +16694449171,,82547799614# US
CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES
1. Approve regular meeting minutes of April 2, 2024.
Recommended Action – Approve as submitted
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
If necessary to ensure completion of the following items, the Chairperson may establish time limits
for the presentations by individual speakers.
2. Other Agenda Items
a. Informational Report on Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Report and Budget
Recommended Action – Provide feedback and accept report.
STAFF LIAISON REPORT
3. Staff Liaison Report: Project Updates
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
4. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Committee
members.
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION
The public is welcome to address the Committee at this time on matters not on the agenda that are
within its jurisdiction. Comments may be no longer than three minutes and should be respectful to
the community.
ADJOURNMENT
• Next scheduled meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.
The meeting will be held in person. The meeting is being streamed live via Zoom.
How to participate in the meeting:
• You are welcome to come to the meeting and provide public comments in person. Each speaker
will have 3 minutes to provide public comments.
• Submit your comment by email to TrafficEng@cityofsanrafael.org by 4:00 p.m. the day of the
meeting.
• If you experience technical difficulties during the meeting, contact TrafficEng@cityofsanrafael.org.
2
Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the board or commission less than 72 hours before the meeting, shall
be available for inspection online and in the City Hall Third Floor Conference Room placed with other agenda-related materials on the table
when you first walk into the room prior to the meeting. Sign Language interpreters may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing
city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the
meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible formats upon request. To request Spanish language interpretation, please submit an
online form at https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/request-for-interpretation/.
Public Works Liaison: Sayed Fakhry, City Traffic Engineer, 111 Morphew Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
Public Works Co-liaison: Joanna Kwok, Assistant Director/City Engineer, 111 Morphew Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
Email: TrafficEng@cityofsanrafael.org (email if you have any questions related to the agenda, projects, or issues getting into the meeting)
Minutes subject to approval at the
next BPAC meeting
Bicycle And Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Wednesday, April 2, at 6:00 P.M.
San Rafael City Hall, Third Floor Conference Room
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Hybrid Meeting via Zoom Minutes
Present: Chair Kyle
Vice Chair Callagy
Member Bergman
Member Mooney
Member Kuhn, Alternate
Absent: Member Vicente
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kyle called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Member Vicente was absent.
MINUTES
1. Approve regular meeting minutes of February 5, 2025.
AYES: Members: Bergman, Callagy, Kuhn, Mooney, Kyle
NOYES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: Vicente
Vice Chair Callagy motions to approve regular meeting minutes of February 5, 2025, Member
Mooney seconds. Motion passes 5-0.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
2. Overview of US101/I-580 Project and Bike/Pedestrian Improvements Along Bellam Blvd
(Presentation by Kimley-Horn on behalf of Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM))
TAM presenters included Connie Fremier (Project Manager), Dan Cherrier (Project Manager), Molly
Graham (Public Outreach Coordinator), and Chadi Chazbek (Kimley-Horn, TAM’s consultant). They
presented the project’s purpose and design alternatives to reconnect the US101 and I-580 while
reducing congestion in the area and improving bike, pedestrian, and transit access. Three
alternatives were discussed: (1) local street improvements on Bellam Blvd, (2) direct elevated two-
lane off-ramp connector between 101 and 580 along Simms Street and all improvements in
Alternative 1, (3) direct elevated connector between Bellam off-ramp and merging onto 580 and all
improvements in Alternative 1. The estimated cost of Alternatives 2 and 3 are around $200-$290
million in 2030 dollars, which is inclusive of $20-$50 million estimated cost of constructing
Alternative 1 Bellam corridor improvements. The project is currently in environmental review for
these alternatives in addition to a No-Build option. Funding is available through the environmental
review phase with some funding available for the final design.
Alternative 1 (Alt 1) Bellam corridor improvements has two options, which were based on
community input. Both Option A and Option B are estimated to cost $20-$50 million (in 2030 dollars)
and include:
a. Removal and reconstruction of the existing bridge overpass carrying eastbound 580 traffic
over Bellam to match the spans of the nearby bridge carrying westbound 580 traffic,
b. Installation of a bicycle and pedestrian shared-use and buffered path on both sides of Bellam
from Anderson to Kerner and on Anderson from Bellam to Francisco Blvd W, which closes
the sidewalk gap on the east side of Anderson from Gary Pl to Francisco Blvd W,
c. Installation of a median along Bellam to prohibit left turns out of driveways,
d. Improved bus stops along the corridor, and
e. Adding an ADA compliant bicycle and pedestrian connector path from Jacoby St to the
SMART Cal Park Hill Pathway.
The main difference is that Alt 1 Option A will replace the existing traffic signals at the Francisco Blvd
E/Bellam and Castro/Bellam intersections with new roundabouts. The westbound 580 off-ramp will
be realigned to channel to Castro Ave, instead of directly to the new Francisco Blvd E/Bellam
roundabout. Whereas Alt 1 Option B involves redesigning the existing signalized intersections with
adjusted lane configurations and signal timing. The current westbound 580 off-ramp will be kept the
same as it is currently.
Questions from the Committee include: Is the post office location in the roundabout option going to
create conflict with a lot of vehicles coming in and out, what is the funding source for both
Alternative 1 Options A and B for $20-$50 million, why can’t the alternatives and options be
staggered for funding reasons, can modeling show the best option between Options A and B during
peak commute traffic hours in the AM and PM, was there consideration given to the informal job
market and its traffic impact on the changes, do the limits of the pedestrian improvements of the
project end at Anderson, can a U-turn be done in the roundabout, are there any scenarios that bikes
or pedestrians need to cross more than two crosswalks, are bicyclists allowed to ride in the vehicle
lanes, can the bike refuges have railings, can the models show pedestrian and bike access and
navigation with the multiple lanes, are there only two lanes heading from 580 to Anderson in the
plan and are there currently three lanes, does staff have a position on the raised crosswalks.
Chair Kyle invited public comments.
Speakers: Joe Mulligan
Chadi (Kimley-Horn), TAM Staff, and City Staff responded to questions raised during public
comment.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
3. Other Agenda Items
a. Informational Report on Citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (CBPP) Update
Recommended Action – Provide feedback and accept report
David Hoffman and Sharanya from Parametrix (on behalf of the City) delivered a
verbal report and presentation slides to introduce the CBPP Update, including
background and history of the City’s bicycle and pedestrian plans, established CBPP
update process and anticipated timeline, current progress, and the next steps on
community outreach. This project will provide the City with an updated CBPP, which
will be an enhancement of the last 2018 plan update and will be used by the City as a
funding tool in the procurement of grants for future bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Since the start of this project in early 2025, the City team (consultants & staff) have
completed the existing conditions data collection phase, which evaluated bike and
pedestrian projects completed since the 2018 plan update, land use, equity
prioritized communities, and collision data. Next, the City will be initiating the
project’s first outreach phase. The proposed outreach plan includes in-person and
virtual workshops, pop-up events, an interactive online map input tool and online
survey, presentations to BPAC and City Council, and targeted meetings with
community-based organizations. The project website will launch on April 7th with an
online survey and interactive online map input tool. The first pop-up event will be at
Canal Alliance’s Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro Community Fair on May 3rd and the
first in-person workshop will be on May 14th from 5-7PM at the San Rafael
Community Center.
Questions from the Committee include: What metrics of success are there for
engagement, can neighborhood location be added as a question on the online
survey, are there in-person surveys that can be provided to people without access to
computers or need technical assistance, and is there something that the City
maintains for all projects that members of the public can quickly look at for ways to
get involved.
Chair Kyle invited public comments.
Speakers: Marley Brezzo
Parametrix and City Staff responded to questions raised during public comment.
Member Kuhn moves to accept the report and Member Mooney seconded to receive
the verbal report.
AYES: Members: Bergman, Callagy, Kuhn, Mooney, Kyle
NOYES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: Vicente
Motion passed 5-0.
b. Presentation on Los Gamos Drive Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Options
Recommended Action – Provide feedback and select preferred option.
Lyn Lopez, Junior Engineer from the Public Works Department, provided a verbal
report and presentation slides for the Los Gamos Drive pedestrian and bike
enhancement options. Pedestrians have been observed to cross Los Gamos Dr at
various unmarked locations due to the distances between marked crosswalks. As
such, City staff conducted a study and presented two options for adding a new
crosswalk on Los Gamos Dr. Option 1 proposes a new crosswalk with Rectangular
Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) located about 20-ft south of the YMCA driveway on
Los Gamos Dr. Approximately 30-ft of curb on the west side of Los Gamos Dr will be
painted red in advance of the new crosswalk (in the southbound direction) to provide
sight distance and response time for drivers to yield for pedestrians crossing the
street. The RRFB will enhance safety and visibility for those crossing the street within
the new crosswalk. Option 2 proposes a raised crosswalk located approximately 150-
ft north of the YMCA driveway on Los Gamos Rd. The curb will also be painted red in
advance of the crosswalk in the southbound direction. The raised crosswalk is a tool
for slowing vehicles and enhancing visibility for those crossing the street.
The southbound bike lane (on the west side of Los Gamos Dr) has been blocked by
vehicles parked directly within the bike lane or along the bike lane line. These vehicle
obstructions reduce access for bicyclists and raises safety concerns, especially with
cyclists now being in the “door zone”. To improve cyclist safety, City staff proposed
two options to enhance the existing bike lane. Option 1 is to install a painted 1 ft
buffer lane in between the vehicle parking lane and the bike lane. Option 2 is to
install a 1 ft buffer on both sides of the existing bike lane. Both options will help guide
drivers to park their cars closer to the curb and provide a larger buffer for the bike
lane.
Questions from the Committee include: Is the proposed buffer is only on the west
side of the road, will the proposed buffer will cause people to not take up the full
parking lane, even with the buffer existing, is the lane of travel affected, what the
point of having the outer buffer on the bike lane is, is there information about the
thinking for having the crosswalk location closer to YMCA, is shifting the centerline an
option, is there is an option for the bike lane to have a solid line on the outside of the
proposed boundary, what is the reason for not raising both crosswalks, can striped
double yellow be considered around the turn, how much the implementation of the
crosswalks would cost, what the initial reasoning is for choosing this location to make
these changes, have there been counts of vehicles going through and pedestrians
crossing, can a light be added either directly for the crosswalk or illuminate the
crosswalk, and what the sight lines are on the left side.
Chair Kyle invited public comments.
No public comments were raised.
Chair Kyle motions for voting on the crosswalk options, with the request to review
lighting and continue the centerline striping.
AYES: Members: Bergman, Callagy, Mooney, Kyle
NOYES: Members: Kuhn
ABSENT: Members: Vicente
Motion passed 4-1 for Option 1 for the crosswalk location. Member Kuhn
votes no due to worry of prioritization of funds.
Chair Kyle motions for voting on the bicycle lane options. Committee members
recommend that both options are agreeable, but if the City cannot afford Option 2,
to start with Option 1.
c. Informational Report on Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Recommended Action – Provide feedback and accept report.
Joanna Kwok, Assistant Public Works Director, provided a verbal report and
presentation slides on the background of the City’s Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) and a preview of transportation programs and projects in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-
26. Joanna also reported that the City had successfully secured about $14.8 million of
grant funding in FY 2024-25 for future transportation improvements. Questions from
the Committee include: Will the detailed CIP budget presentation happen before or
after City Council approval and is one of the grants included was the north-south
greenway.
Chair Kyle invited public comments.
No public comments were raised.
Staff responded to questions raised by the Committee. Vice Chair Callagy moved to
accept the report and Member Bergman seconded.
AYES: Members: Bergman, Callagy, Mooney, Kyle
NOYES: Members: Kuhn
ABSENT: Members: Vicente
Motion passed 5-0.
STAFF LIAISON REPORT
4. Staff Liaison Report: Project Updates
Assistant Director Joanna Kwok introduced Sayed Fakhry, City Traffic Engineer, as the new
BPAC liaison and noted she will be serving as BPAC co-liaison moving forward. Joanna also
reported that BPAC is one of four Committees (out of 16 Commissions and Committees) that
have not converted to a 2-minute public comment time and inquired about BPAC switching
from a 3-minute to 2-minute comment time. Chair Kyle requested for the public comment
time period to be an agenda item for a future meeting.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
5. Commissioner Report:
Chair Kyle received information from the “Hillside Neighbors” about the 2nd and 4th St Project in a
letter and was requested for an in-person meeting.
OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION
Marley Brezzo commented on the 2nd and 4th St Project and has a written statement. Stated that the
design provides a pedestrian refuge on 2nd St but would like to see a full straight crossing to be proposed
or the refuge to be pushed south. West End Ave is used as a thorough fare and the left turn closure for
Marquard and routing down to Greenfield will increase traffic congestion. Stated that the 2nd and 4th
community already live on a road that is difficult for services to access.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kyle adjourned the meeting at 8:19 P.M .
Approved this 4th day of June 2025
_____________________________
Sayed Fakhry, Staff Liaison
